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Vandal Hearts, known in Japan as Vandal Hearts: The Lost Ancient Civilization (ヴァンダルハーツ　～失われた古代文明～, Vandaru Hātsu ~Ushinawareta Kodai Bunmei~) is a turn-based tactical role-playing video game developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo for the PlayStation and later ported to the Sega Saturn by Konami Computer Entertainment Nagoya. The PlayStation version was distributed in Japan, North America, and Europe. The Saturn version was only released in Japan. There was also a Microsoft Windows version which was released only in Japan and South Korea, with Software renderer and Direct3D Support.

Vandal Hearts
North American box art
Developer(s)	Konami PlayStation Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo Sega Saturn Konami Computer Entertainment Nagoya Windows Konami Computer Games Aoyama System Sacom
Publisher(s)	Konami
Artist(s)	Hiroshi Kyomasu
Writer(s)	Nobuya Nakazato
Composer(s)	Hiroshi Tamawari Miki Higashino Kosuke Soeda Masahiro Yamauchi
Platform(s)	PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Microsoft Windows
Release	PlayStation JP: October 25, 1996 NA: March 27, 1997 EU: June 1, 1997 Sega Saturn JP: November 27, 1997 Microsoft Windows JP: 1998 KOR: 1998
Genre(s)	Tactical role-playing
Mode(s)	Single-player

The game spawned a sequel, Vandal Hearts II, also for the PlayStation. A prequel, Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment was created for the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade.[1] In 2004, Konami announced a Vandal Hearts game for the Nintendo DS,[2] but it was later cancelled.

Plot

Setting

Thousands of years ago, the holy man known to history as Toroah the Messiah traveled far and wide across the continent of Sostegaria, spreading his teachings throughout the land. After his death, his descendants and heirs assumed absolute political power over the region, forming the basis of the Holy Ashah Dynasty and ruling through a combination of religious doctrine and military power for millennia. The kings and queens of the Holy Ashah Dynasty, however, did not always rule wisely or justly, and, as time passed, the citizenry began to resent the power of their leaders.

Fifteen years ago, this growing discontent found its ultimate expression in the person of Arris the Sage, who united the desperate and resentful anti-royal factions throughout Sostegaria and shaped them into a powerful guerrilla army. Under the cunning leadership of Arris, this Liberation Army managed to outwit and outmaneuver the Royal Army, and finally smashed through to the palace of the Ashah Dynasty itself, and burnt it to the ground.

With the monarchy dissolved, the rebels establish a ruling council founded on the principles of democracy and popular sovereignty. From the ashes of the Holy Ashah Empire emerges the Republic of Ishtaria. The leaders of the revolution naturally assumed leadership positions within the new republic: all, that is, except for Arris himself, who suddenly disappeared and has not been seen of, nor heard of, ever since.

Today, the fledgling republic is in increasingly dire straits: the autocratic Minister of Defense, Hel Spites, and his elite anti-terrorism squad, the Crimson Guard, are using ever-increasing force to stamp out the last vestiges of resistance to Ishtarian rule, while they allow outlaws to roam the countryside and pirates to sail the seas. Meanwhile, Ash Lambert and his colleagues at the third battalion of the Ishtarian Security Forces begin to suspect a conspiracy at the highest levels of government.

Story

This section's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (November 2020)

In Chapter 1, we meet Ash, Diego and Clint, who are posing as merchants. A group of thieves comes to rob them, only to find out that Ash is a member of the Security Forces. Ash, Diego and Clint dispatch Zoot Gach and his thieves. Despite Diego wanting to end Zoot's life at that point, the three companions head back to the capital Shumeria. Ash reports on what they found in the valley to their boss, Clive Beckett. Clive wants to know more when the meeting is interrupted by a citizen reporting a riot in the Dover District. This is a slum where the former nobles who lived the rich life under the Ashah Dynasty still live. Diego, Ash and Clint assault a church, and meet up with Kane, the leader of Hel Spite's elite Crimson Guard. Ash and Kane trade some words, and the three beat back the monsters that appear and head to the church. There, they meet up with Count Claymore, who instigated the riot in the first place. Kane shows back up and arrests Claymore, simultaneously killing the remaining nobles in cold blood. Clive shows up as Ash is ready duel Kane, and cools the two off. The next day, a mysterious man by the name of Dolf shows up at Clive's office with a mission. Three months before, General Magnus Dunbar left for Gilbaris Island on a secret mission. He and his companions disappeared, and are presumed dead. Ash is to find out what happened to the general and report back to Dolf. Ash leaves with Clint and Diego, most think they are on leave because of what happened in the Dover District. As they pass through the ruins of the Ashah Dynasty's castle, they run afoul of some clay golems created by Eleni Dunbar, the daughter of General Magnus. She and her manservant Huxley Hobbes join up with Ash. They also run into some brigands guarding a bridge, where another archer named Kira also joins the band. When the make the port to take them to Gilbaris Island, Grog Drinkwater refuses on account of Hassan the Pirate, who killed Grog's sailors and brother. Ash and his companions go to the desert to kill a sand creature that is stopping overland trade with a neighboring nation. Once they slay the beast, Ash confronts Grog, saying that "drinking won't bring back the dead". Grog joins the party and they confront Hassan. After whipping the pirates, they find out that Hassan is actually Grog's brother, and that the life of piracy "killed" the man who was Grog's brother. The party then travels to Gilbaris Island after burying Hassan at sea.

Chapter 2 starts with the arrival at Gilbaris Island, the party discovers that the people in the sole village are zombies, and some stone statues giving off evil emanations. After destroying the statues, the townsfolk revert to their humanity. They say that General Magnus Dunbar arrived on the island three months before and ignored the warning to enter the ruins. After that, Magnus came to the village, shot some magic at them to which they did not know what happened after that until Ash and the party arrived and liberated them. Eleni suggests that Ash and the party hurry to the ruins. They head up the valley, and come into contact with Captain Dolan, Amon and Sara. Dolan is under Magnus' command, and he tells the party that they were held in the dungeon of the ruins. After resting in the town, Ash is determined to find out what happened to General Magnus, and heads off. Dolan comes along, and Amon as well after Sara guilts him into going along. They fight some more possessed troops in a poison swamp. After that, the party arrives to find General Magnus under some sort of spell, as the jewel he is carrying gives him inhuman power. The party duels with him and beats him. As he falls, the Magic Stone falls from his grasp. The Crimson Guard (led by Kane and Dolf) show up and arrest Eleni, Magnus and Huxley. They tell Ash that he was integral to "uncovering" a plot by Magnus to overthrow the government in a coup. Ash initially intervenes, but Dolf reminds him that his father was a traitor, and if he stops Dolf and Kane, they will be forced to call him a traitor too. Ash backs down, much to the party's chagrin. Magnus tells Eleni that the Magic Stone is only pure power, and that it magnifies the bearer's true nature. They head back to the town, and Ash sneaks off to rescue Eleni, Magnus and Huxley. Ash is stopped by Clint and Diego, who want to help Ash. Dolan, Amon and Sara show up as well, and Ash is thankful for his friends. Kira looks upon this meeting from afar. The party runs afoul of guard dogs outside the prison. Ash rescues Magnus, Eleni and Huxley, and outside of the prison, Magnus implores Ash to stay and find the Magic Stone. Dolf shows up with Hel Kane, and mocks the party and Magnus' ignorance about the true nature of the stone. He shows that Kira was a plant within the party and that she told Dolf of the party's movements during her time with them. Dolf starts to use the stone to kill Ash and his companions, and Magnus turns back into his possessed self, and fights back. They rip a hole in time-space, and that fissure swallows Grog, Magnus, Sara and Ash. Eleni is stunned, having lost her father twice.

Chapter 3 opens with Hel Spites declaring that Magnus was assassinated by terrorists, and his Crimson Knights were swift in response. He places the blame on the DSF, and arrests Ronaldo Castille (Ash's boss). Then, Hel then has a meteoric rise to power from Defense Minister to Prime Minister in a few months. Afterwards, he stages some "rebellions" and asks for "emergency powers" from the Ishtarian Council. Once he has those powers, he absolves the Council and declares himself "Emperor Hel." He then quashes all dissent with a secret police composed of 5 Crimson Leaders (Kane, Dallas, Kurtz, Lambert and Sabina). They squash all in their path as Hel consolidates his power. Any groups that dissent are quietly dealt with or are outright killed.

Meanwhile, Ash, Grog and Sara appeared in a land with strange rocks and magma around. Magnus dies after telling Ash that he needs to find a way back to the world and stop Dolf and Hel. After they bury Magnus, they are beset upon by Lost Souls. After the battle, they meet with a mysterious man called Zohar, who calls the death of the Lost Souls "cruel." He remarks that there is a town nearby, and that the trio should head there. Sara comments that Zohar sounds familiar as they head off. They end up in a town where Grog comments on how old the town looks, while Sara says that some of the houses look ultra-modern. Ash agrees that there is a mix of styles in the town. Heading to the tavern, they find that they are in the "Lost Town at the End of the World." It is a time-loop, where time effectively stops. Whenever there is a hole in time-space, the people end up here. After leaving the tavern, Ash reiterates that they need to get back to their own time, because of the promise he made to Magnus about the Magic Stone. Zohar, who happened to be passing by, overhears Ash. He invites them to his house so they can chat about the Magic Stone. Once there, Ash relates all that happened, and what Dolf did. Zohar decides that he has sat long enough, and that he will accompany Ash back to the place they came in. Zohar sets up some pillars, which attracts Lost Souls. Successfully defending the pillars, the time-space rip opens up again, and swallows the party. Back in the real world, Zoot Gach (whom the party arrested in the first battle) has cornered Clive, Diego, Dolan and Huxley. Things look grim, as Zoot prepares to torch the village where the quartet is staying. Suddenly, Ash, Grog, Zohar and Sara reappear, turning the tide. They all kill Zoot Gach and reunite. Clive tells Ash that it has been 3 years since they disappeared, and relates what happened afterwards. Grog comments that they were only gone for a day, and Zohar tells him that they were lucky they came this close. They head back to Terasu Village to catch up. Ash suggests that they get everybody riled up to resist Emperor Hel under one banner, just like the Resistance did 18 years before. Ash comes up with a plan to assault the Imperial Prison to rouse the rebels. It turns out that Clint, Eleni and Amon are there as well. The party heads out to Basil Gate as Clive attempts to galvanize the Resistance. They beat the Crimson Guard forces there, and move on towards the prison.

In Shumeria, Emperor Hel meets with his Inner Circle. Dolf tells the Inner Circle about the Magic Stone. It has been studied and found to be from when the Universe was born. This Stone also contains a spark of the Flames of Judgement, which almost ruined the world in times past. Dolf discovers that the Royal Ring is needed to break the seal on the Flames. Apparently when Toroah the Messiah saved the world, he used the Royal Ring to seal the Flames within the Stone. The Holy Ashah Dynasty was supposed to safeguard the Ring, but, 18 years ago the Ring vanished in the Revolution and was forgotten by the royals who were supposed to protect it. Kane, on the other hand, does not think they need the Flames, as his Crimson Knights can rule through fear. Hel disagrees, and tells Kane that they need a symbol for the people to follow, not oppression that breeds discontent. Kira, however, has fallen in love with Clint. Dolf makes sure she understands that her family was killed during the Revolution 18 years before. Also, Dolf is planning a coup of his own against Hel, and wants Kira to support him. After Kira has gone, another of Dolf's minions, Xeno, appears. Xeno does not fully trust Kira as Dolf does. Dolf tells Xeno to keep an eye on her. Ash and his companions ambush a patrol from the Prison, and kill one of the Crimson Leaders, Lando. Clint, meanwhile, meets up with Count Claymore, who was the instigator of the riot in the Dover District 3 years before. Clint is in a cell with another man called Darius, a tinkerer by trade. He argued with a soldier, and wound up in prison wrongfully. Claymore tells Clint that the Empire is planning to find the Royal Ring to unlock the Flames. Kira comes to the cell, and Clint initially does not trust her. She tells him that the Empire is planning to execute him, along with Eleni and Amon. She hands over the keys and some weapons, and takes off. Clint and Darius free Eleni and Amon, and get out of the prison into the yard. Warden Dumas taunts them as they are escaping. Ash shows up with the party, and together they kill Dumas and escape. It turns out Darius and Huxley used to live in the same village.

Chapter 4 starts with the fall of the prison revitalizing the resistance against Hel. They liberate Southern Ishtaria. Clive acts as a pipeline to the resistance and works with Ash and his companions. Eleni learns that her father passed away after Ash disappeared. She leaves the strategy meeting Ash and Clive were having. Clive reports good news from the resistance on the front, but that Hel reached out to the neighboring region of Urdu for help. The Empire promises the southern region of Ishtaria to Urdu in exchange for troops. This will put the resistance in a war on two fronts, if the bargain is struck. Clive relays Clint's news from Count Claymore about the Royal Ring. Clive sends Ash and company to the nearby town of Kerachi. Diego seems hesitant to go, but plays it off. Clive attempts to sneak out of town to meet with rebels in the eastern region of Ishtaria. Ash catches up to him, and apologizes for "cursing" the group (due to his father being labeled a traitor). Clive starts to tell Ash something, but stops when Clint and Diego interrupt the meeting. As the group was preparing for their journey to Kerachi, Clive did not want to bother them. Clive tells Ash to believe in himself and his friends, and that he is no traitor. Before the team can leave though, they are pinned by Dallas, Sabina, Kurtz and Kane; who are 4 of the 5 Crimson Leaders (Lando having fallen in the ambush). Breaking free, the group heads off to Kerachi.

Kira gets called to Dolf, who says that a traitor was involved in the prison break. Kira lies, but Xeno shows up and tells her that he knows that she gave Clint the keys. Caught, Kira is arrested. Dolf then reveals that he is manipulating Hel in order to get access to the Flames. He sends Xeno to get rid of Ash. In the forest between Khanos and Kerachi, the group runs afoul of Xeno. Diego is still "half-complaining" about going to Kerachi. Xeno summons forth zombies to kill the party. Zohar reveals that Xeno was an apprentice of his, but his lust for power turned him evil. It turns out that Zohar lived over 300 years ago, and that he had been trapped by Xeno in the "land between time." He is known as Zohar Abu Sa'id, a famous arcanist who was known for his experiments in magic. Xeno wanted to rekindle the Flames back then, which explains why Dolf and Hel are pursuing the Magic Stone and Royal Ring do badly. After beating the zombies in the forest, the group comes into Kerachi. Ash reveals that they are supposed to meet up with Carlo Lisbon, a well-known businessman. Diego blurts out that they cannot trust Carlo. Ash reveals that Carlo is one of the biggest supporters of the Resistance. Diego suggests that Carlo is double-dealing with the Empire, just in case either side triumphs. They head over to Carlo's mansion, where Carlo reveals that his agent is finalizing the sale of the Ring now. Before Diego can slip out of the room, Carlo stops him. It turns out Diego is Carlo's son. Diego left his father 7 years before, and changed his last name from Lisbon to Renault. Carlo believes his sone is back to succeed him in the family business. Ash finds Diego out on a deck, and asks what happened. Diego felt that Carlo loved money more than him or his mother. Eleni finds Ash, saying that Carlo heard back from his agent about the Ring. Meeting with Carlo, he confirms that the Ring being sold is indeed the true Royal Ring. After the Revolution 18 years before, the Ring ended up with a coin collector. Carlo sets the meeting at a warehouse in the old part of Kerachi. He tells Ash to finalize the deal and make the exchange that night. Upon arriving at the exchange, the party finds out it is a trap. Breaking free from the trap, Ash and his companions find out that Xeno was behind the attempt yet again, and that Carlo set them up. Carlo tells Diego to give up his warring ways and come back home. Xeno creates a flame wall around the party intending to burn them alive. Carlo implores Xeno, telling him that his son was to live. Xeno mocks Carlo, and Carlo attacks Xeno. Xeno knocks out Carlo, but his concentration was broken, ending the spell. Xeno then flees. Diego runs to his father, and Huxley tells him that his father will live. Back at the mansion, Diego has been holding a vigil at his father's bedside. Carlo apologizes to his son for alienating him. He tells Diego to pursue his dreams. Ash comes in and tells Diego that the Ring is being transported by train back to Shumeria. Carlo implores his son to go with Ash. Diego tells his father to get better, and that when everything is over, Diego will come back to Carlo.

On the train, Dallas (one of the Crimson Leaders) tells his people to release the cars to cut off Ash and the party. Moving up the train cars, Ash and company defeat Dallas and secure the Royal Ring. Zohar looks at the ring when Xeno shows up. It turns out that Dolf and Xeno are holding Kira hostage in exchange for the ring. He tells the group to come to Fort Dain in 24 hours time, or Kira dies. Ash decides to go, because if they do not, they will lose a piece of their souls. Upon arriving at Fort Dain, the party sees Kira being held over a pool of magma. Xeno gives them a choice: either they hand over the ring, or Kira dies. Ash hands over the Ring, and Xeno betrays his word by releasing the locks on Kira's platform. The party hurries to destroy the death device, and save Kira's life. Kira blames herself for the party's downfall, but Clint states that everyone deserves a second chance. Kira decides to join the group. That night, Kira shares that she was once a child of a noble family, but noble in name only. It is found out that Ishtaria was born on the blood of the innocents, as Kira's family was dirt poor but killed by the Revolution because of where they lived. Ash remarks that Hel is going down the same road and repeating the tragedy in his lust for power. Zohar comes up with a plan to stop Dolf, Xeno and Hel. According to an inscription on the Royal Ring, there is a place in the Torog Mountains. Zohar does not know what could be kept up there, but the party may as well try as they are all out of options.

Chapter 5 opens with narration about the Torog Mountains being the Home of the Gods. But, something sinister is brewing within the Empire as Hel has both the Magic Stone and the Royal Ring. Hel and Dolf are admiring the Flames of Judgment. Hel is not sure that the power was meant for mortal men. Dolf laughs at Hel's sudden change of heart, and murders him and his guard. A second guard comes in, wondering what happened. Dolf lies, saying that the dead guard was an assassin sent to kill Hel, and if the guard hurries, they might save Hel. But, only a coffin awaits the short-lived Emperor.

Meanwhile, Ash and the party have slipped up to the Torog Mountains by sea. They are set upon by monsters as they dock. Fighting past the monsters, the party rests for the night in the town of Sorbo. Upon arriving in the town, they decide to head to bed, as they have a hard climb up the mountains the next day. That night, Eleni has a disturbing nightmare that wakes up Sara. Sara says that she wishes she could dream about a handsome stranger, to which Eleni counters that she thought Sara and Amon had a thing. Sara angrily denies this, and they head back to bed. The next morning, the party then heads into the Torog Mountains. They meet up with Kane and Kurtz. Sabina shows up and tells Kane of his father's death. Kane and Sabina leave Kurtz to take care of Ash. The party is triumphant over Kurtz. After the battle, Kira mentions that Dolf wanted to seize power from Hel, and that Dolf is extremely dangerous (compared to Hel). Ash suggests that they move faster. They head for Frontier Village, north of the mountains. Eleni comments that the village seems oddly familiar, even though this is her first time there. After talking with some patrons at the local tavern, Eleni begins to look pale. She remembers that the village is the one in her dreams, and that she sees the village engulfed in flames. An old man passes by as Eleni collapses. He offers to let Eleni rest in his house. The old man introduces himself as Orosius, the leader of the village. Ash tells him why they came, and what the Royal Ring said, but the man seems evasive. Suddenly, they are interrupted by another villager who states that while they were out picking healing herbs, they were beset upon by monsters. Ash volunteers to go when it is learned that Orosius' granddaughter was caught out there as well. Eleni revives and comes with Ash and the party. The party rushes out to the Tsukue Plains. When they arrive, Leena (Orosius' granddaughter) casts a protective shield around herself and another villager. Zohar comments at the strength of the spell being cast, and that such a young child should know that. After beating the monsters, the party heads back to the village. Ash stays behind briefly with Zohar, who comments that only the strongest and wisest mages know that spell, and also comments on the design in the field, a large eagle or hawk. Ash suspects that Orosius knows more than he is letting on. Back at the village, Orosius thanks the party for saving Leena. Ash says, "start by telling the truth." Orosius tries to deny it, but Ash calls his bluff, saying that he knows the symbols in Toroah's Ark (the ruins on Gilbaris Island) and the spell Leena cast. Orosius relents and tells Ash about his people. They are descendants of the ancient Biruni Empire. They are the ones who created the Flames of Judgment during an experiment. Ash wants Orosius to help fight Dolf and the Empire, but Orosius refuses. Ash tells him that the Flames are their responsibility, and that the power never left the world after Toroah sealed it. Orosius decides to test Ash and his companions. If they can bring back a claw from Salamander the Dragon, he will help them. Leena guides them to the mouth of the cave, and then leaves. Ash and company beat Salamander and retrieve a claw from him. Upon returning to the village, Ash and his companions find it engulfed in flames, just as Eleni predicted. Orosius is cut down as Ash arrives, scarring Leena. Sabina wants revenge for Kurtz, Dallas and Lando's deaths. They duel against each other. Kane arrives, and despite this setback, they beat Kane back and kill Sabina. The party watches helplessly as Orosius dies. Orosius tells Leena to take Ash and company to Orome Lake, where they will find a temple. Inside the temple is the sentient sword of destruction: the titular Vandal Heart! Only Leena can break the seal on the temple and the sword. Orosius says that it must be fate that they are now paying for their sins, lying about the Flames. Orosius issues a warning about the sword though: just like the Magic Stone, it can curse the one who wields it. Orosius has faith in Ash, and says if anyone could, Ash can. After burying Orosius, Dolan, Amon and Sara are ruminating about how many have died so far in the struggle. Dolan comments that they can beat Dolf and Hel, and their hopes lie in Leena.

Eleni visits Leena at her home. Leena is distraught over the loss of her village and grandfather. Eleni tells her to cheer up, as she is not alone. Leena is now part of their family, and Eleni gives Leena her pendant. The party heads out to Orome Lake. Once there, Leena casts a spell, making the temple arise from the waters. They guide Leena across the walkways, past the Guardian Constructs, and she gets them inside the temple. Vandal Heart waits inside of a magical seal. Just as Leena goes up to unseal the sword, Xeno shows up. Zohar tries once again to reach his old apprentice, but to no avail. It turns out Xeno learned phase magic, and can summon time-space gates at will. He casts the portal at Leena, and Eleni tries to intervene. The party seems at a loss as Xeno flees. Eleni suddenly remembers that she is, in fact, Leena from the village. The loss of her grandfather and subsequent trip through time repressed the memories until they started this journey north. Leena comes out 18 years in the past, wearing the pendant that she gave to her younger self. Magnus Dunbar finds her, and the rest is history. Eleni then unseals Vandal Heart, as she can now remember the incantations. Ash walks up to the sword, takes it, and feels energized.

Chapter 6 begins with Ash, now in possession of Vandal Heart, heading back to Shumeria to help with the Liberation Army's final assault. Dolf, now in possession of the Flames of Judgment (and rid of Hel), prepares to make his move on the throne. The party gears up in the town of Glasgow before heading out to Fort Gareth (one of the last of the Empire's strongholds). At the Fort, Kane is lamenting the loss of his father and friends slain in this campaign. Ash shows up, and wants to talk peace. Kane wants Ash dead, and so Ash decides to duel. Kane also lets slip that Dolf is behind the recent turn of events. During the battle, Xeno shows up and taunts Kane's inability to kill Ash. Xeno says that if Kane pledges his soul to him, Xeno will give Kane the power to kill Ash. Kane says yes, and Xeno turns him into a soulless killing machine. Undead, Kane professes his hatred of Ash. With no alternatives, Ash finally lays Kane to rest. The party then heads out to Cobalt Beach, where Vandal Heart starts to war with Ash over his soul. Various voices call out to him, and only Ash can hear them. They are here at Cobalt Beach to link up with forces under the command of Clive. They beat back a small Imperial patrol. During the battle, Ash is still hearing the voices call out to him. After the battle, the voices become so overwhelming to Ash that he changes (much as Magnus did 3 years prior). Ash lashes out at Eleni, and Clive shows up. Zohar explains that Vandal Heart is vying for Ash's soul. The trauma of his childhood (being called the "son of a traitor") is manifesting itself through the sword. Ash blows the party back, and Clive tries to get Ash to calm down. Ash strikes Clive down. Ash then comes back to his senses as Clive lays dying. Ash implores Clive not to die, but Clive says it is for the best. He tells Ash what really happened to his father that day he was called a "traitor." Aldor (Ash's father) was protecting Arris the Sage, the very same Arris who was so instrumental in the founding of Ishtaria. Clive came to arrest Arris, as there was "evidence" that Arris was betraying the Liberation Army. Aldor and Clive fought, with Clive ultimately killing Aldor. Come to find out later, Aldor had indeed told the truth to Clive, but the man who could have been brought to justice died during the war. Clive tried to speak up, but by then the damage had been done. And Clive did not want to hurt the peace process, so he held his tongue for 18 years until now. Clive tells Ash that is father was no traitor. He implores Ash to forget the past and believe in himself. Clive then passes out from the pain.

The party returned to town, and Huxley and Sara tend to Clive. Eleni finds Ash in a somber mood. Ash does not think he can continue, even though Clive is going to live. Eleni tells Ash that everyone, including himself and Clive, have been fighting for a better tomorrow. Eleni implores Ash to honor his father's memory by fighting the good fight. Eleni then throws Ash's own words (spoken to her grandfather Orosius) about responsibility back at him. Ash agrees, and pledges to continue the fight. Ash plays the tune on his ocarina, the same tune he played for Eleni when they first met 3 years before. It turns out the ocarina belonged to Aldor, and Ash just could not get rid of it. The party then heads off to Shumeria.

Upon arriving at the capitol, they find it in chaos. Imperial soldiers are being slaughtered by monsters. An Imperial soldier tells Ash that Dolf took the Flames and holed up in the Holy Temple. Dolf spoke of a ritual that would destroy the rebel army. After that, monsters appeared and started attacking the soldiers. Ash wonders what could be going on at the Great Temple. Zohar postulates that a powerful negative force is using the Flames, and it created a vortex to a dark and evil dimension. Xeno shows up and confirms Zohar's hypothesis. Xeno wanted to rise above humanity, and Zohar needs to stop him. During the fight, Sara pledges herself to Amon, and Clint attempts to profess his love to Kira. But, Kira did not hear him, so Clint just tells her to "be careful." The party is successful in finally putting an end to Xeno and his lust for power. Afterwards, Zohar talks of Xeno and how he was a promising student once upon a time. The party then readies themselves for the fight against Dolf. Entering the Great Temple, Dolf extolls virtue on the party for making it that far. Ash asks how far Dolf wants to take his lust for death. Dolf exclaims that Ash misunderstands his intentions. Dolf does not want to be Emperor. He wants revenge for his father: Arris the Sage. Dolf explains that his father was a true patriot, and was used and thrown aside. As Ishtaria enjoyed prosperity, they all but forgot Arris's sacrifices. Zohar scoffs at Dolf for using the Flames for petty revenge. Dolf counters that unclean world can only be cleansed in fire. Ash tells Dolf that life can be pure, and that life is also precious. Whereas Dolf will kill people for their sins, Ash would battle the gods themselves to save one life. Unmoved, Dolf challenges Ash and his companions to stop him. Once they do manage to stop him, he goes into overdrive, becoming Dark Angel Dolf. Upon beating this second form, the party starts to relax as Dolf lays dying. Ash tries to get Dolf to understand that he does not have to fight any more, and that Ash understands his need for revenge (Ash's father dying to try and protect Dolf's father). Ash offers Dolf a second chance to help rebuild Ishtaria. Dolf scoffs at Ash, telling him that the country was doomed anyway. Dolf was just speeding up the timetable. Dolf then decides to unleash the full fury of the Flames of Judgment. Zohar begs him to stop, but happens to late. The party seems at a loss, as Dolf is swallowed up by the expanding Flames. Ash tries one last desperate gambit: using Vandal Heart to stop the Flames. Zohar begs Ash to stop, but Ash leaps in, extinguishing the Flames, and disappearing in a flash. Eleni looks on, struck by the fact that Ash disappeared.

The ending tells that without Hel and Dolf, the fledgling Empire crumbled. Ishtaria was back on track for democracy. In the countryside, though, "law" is still "survival of the strongest" (as it was when Ash, Clint and Diego beat Zoot 3 year before). Eleni starts a journal as the party drifts off. Dolan becomes a statesman to help rebuild Ishtaria. Kira goes on a journey of self-discovery. Clint became the new head of the DSF, and waits for Kira's return. Rumors are that the two will marry. Diego returns to Kerachi to pick up the family business. Amon becomes Darius' new apprentice. Sara takes a job at a local bakery to be near to Amon. Grog and Zohar sail the world together. Eleni gets letters from faraway lands from time to time. Huxley is working on his stamp collection. And Eleni waits, day by day, for Ash's return. As she is finishing her last journal entry, she hears a familiar tune being played on an ocarina. Ash finally finds his way back, after an indeterminate amount of time.

Gameplay

Gameplay is carried out through an isometric viewpoint.[3] Battles are carried out on a series of grid maps, which include cells not accessible like water, trees and buildings. Although the environment is three dimensional with a perspective that can be rotated by the player, the characters are two dimensional sprites.[4] A character's movement allowance for a turn can be used all at once or split, between two or more movements. Turns are on a side-by-side basis; the player moves all of their characters before the AI is allowed to take its turn.[4]

Most stages are completed by killing all the enemy characters. Other stages have different victory conditions, such as killing one particular enemy character, moving characters to a specific location on the map, or killing certain enemies while saving others. In every battle, the death of the party leader results in an immediate loss. Losing other characters in the party causes the loss of gold. The character is gone from the current stage and can return in the next stage. On stages that include rescuing other characters, the death of these characters also results in a loss.

Classes

A variety of characters join the battle party throughout the course of the game. Every character fits into one of seven character classes: Swordsman, Armor, Archer, Hawknight, Monk, Mage and Cleric. The strengths of each class are determined through a hierarchy similar to the hand game Rock, Paper, Scissors (and Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War, another tactical role-playing game released in 1996): melee fighters (such as Swordsmen and Armors) are most effective when fighting against Archers. Archers are most effective when fighting against airborne characters such as Hawknights. Hawknights are most effective when fighting against Swordsmen. The other three classes are magic-users: the Monk pairs healing magic with average physical strength, where the Mage specializes in attack magic, and the Cleric specializes in healing magic. In addition, Mages are also most effective against Armor. Most magic-using classes have weak defensive capabilities when compared to other classes in the game and most attacking magic spells are stronger against heavily armored opponents.

Reception

Vandal Hearts received primarily mixed reviews. Critics generally praised the incorporation of three-dimensional terrain and positioning into combat strategy,[6][7][9] the sound effects,[6][8][9] and the visual spectacle of the spells.[6][7][8][9] However, most critics disapproved of the linear progression of the gameplay and story.[6][7][8]

Reviews in both GameSpot and Next Generation likened Vandal Hearts to a bare bones reduction of the Shining Force games, eliminating the exploration, town wandering, and replay elements that had helped make those games classics.[7][8] Next Generation nonetheless had a firmly positive overall assessment, arguing that "the lack of exploration is offset by the extremely engaging combat sequences."[8] GameSpot instead considered it a "fatal flaw", and deemed Vandal Hearts a typical example of a fifth generation game with solid design and impressive graphics but less advanced gameplay than games of previous generations, though the reviewer highly praised the strategy involved in the battles.[7] Robert Bannert at MAN!AC was positive about the game, but said it lacked depth and has little replay value. He cited the lack of hidden characters and an interactive storyline as weakness of the game, but praised the variety of the 3D terrain.[3]

GamePro found several elements of the gameplay unusual and refreshing, such as the ability to choose each character's class, and was especially pleased with the full motion video cutscenes. The reviewer concluded, "Vandal Hearts' original gameplay and strong graphics and sounds should satisfy even the most particular RPGers."[9] Dan Hsu of Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) criticized that the game sometimes spoils its own plot twists through its use of omniscient point of view, for instance by showing that the player characters are being betrayed before they learn it themselves. However, he praised the enemy AI and said the variety created by the different character classes "won me over." He and his three co-reviewers gave it EGM's "Game of the Month" award.[6]

EGM named Vandal Hearts a runner-up for "Strategy Game of the Year" (behind Command & Conquer: Red Alert) at their 1997 Editors' Choice Awards.[10]

References

External links

• Vandal Hearts at MobyGames

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